25. Tahlia

She stopped and leaned back on a tall, wide maple—one of the only large trees in the area. He halted a few paces back, keeping his distance for her safety. She hated that space between them with a super searing type of hate.

The light through the trees made his Fae-white hair shimmer like magic from the ancient worlds, like Unseelie magic. Marius was every bit as dangerous as an Unseelie. He could snap her neck in a breath.

“Why are you grinning like that? It’s…not a comforting expression, let me tell you.”

She snickered. “I like how deadly you are.”

He tilted his head and lifted one moonlight-hued eyebrow. “You do, hmm?”

That deep voice sent wonderful shivers down her back. She licked her lips and noticed that his gaze focused on the movement of her tongue.

“Just why did you drag me into the haunted forest, little salty?”

“I’m not sure I love that nickname.”

“Lady of the Skies?”

“Maybe one is good for a certain situation and the second for another, very different scenario.”

“Ah. I will have to study your preferences once we are free of…” His lips tightened and his throat moved in a swallow.

“For now, let’s say your hands do as mine do.”

His brow furrowed but he held up his hands, palms toward the forest’s canopy as if in surrender.

Tahlia chuckled, slid her hand down her hip, and cupped one side of her own arse. She winked.

His lips pulled into a smile and he seemed ready to chuckle, the light dancing in his stormy eyes. He mimicked the movement, grabbing his backside and smirking at her.

“It’s my turn now. It’s only fair,” he said.

Tahlia’s toes curled inside her boots. “All right, then. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Marius’s near grin fell away and his eyes narrowed as he studied her face. He lifted a hand and drew his fingers from his temple to his jaw. She echoed his hand’s action, her heart beating soft and slow now. He set his hand against his cheek. She did as well and turned her face into her hand slightly, leaning into the touch. It was her flesh, but the intention was his. A shadow of a smile graced his mouth.

“You’re so lovely, Tahlia. I never tire of looking at you. The way you smile. How your forehead wrinkles when you’re thinking…”

He shifted his hand to slide over the spot between his eyebrows, and so she did the same, shutting her eyes for just a moment to pretend he could touch her again. To imagine they were like any couple in the Realm of Lights, courting and unrestrained.

“My turn,” she said, feeling strangely shy.

She opened her eyes and set her hand against her heart. He placed his hand over his chest and he curled his fingers for a moment like he wanted to grip his heart. She drew a line from her chest to the hollow in her throat. Her pulse beat quickly beneath her fingers. Marius slid his hand up too and a sweet smile pushed at his lips. The heat of a tear trickled down Tahlia’s cheek. Marius lifted his hand and brushed his cheek as if he could wipe her tears away.

“I love you, Tahlia. You know that, right? I assume you already have me figured out.”

Her heart leapt and rolled and a broken laugh of joy fell from her mouth. “I had hoped. I love you too, Marius. Even if I’m not supposed to.”

“That just makes it more fun for you.”

She knew they were ignoring the curse for now and that he meant the fact that she was half-human and their relationship could cause further disturbances in the order.

“I do like a challenge,” she said, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand and adding a teasing note to her voice.

She met his gaze and let her eyes show him that it was time to play a little more, to stop the weeping, to enjoy one another if only for this brief moment. He smiled in return, his glance going dark and hot. Want simmered low in her belly and she took a shuddering breath.

Smoothing her palm down between her breasts, she lifted an eyebrow. He mimicked the movement, his lips parting slightly and his fully slitted irises going wide.

“I’m taking over now,” he said.

The growl of command in his voice made her skin flush. He continued down his torso, then swept upward to palm his chest. He drew a thumb back and forth. She did the same, inhaling quickly as the touch had her nipple rising beneath her tunic and vest. Tilting his head as if he was truly enjoying the view, he ran his hand down to cup himself. Tahlia swallowed, her face on fire and her body melting. He was very obviously enjoying this now.

With a painfully slow movement, he stroked himself and she did likewise. The pull toward him was nearly overpowering. She wanted him against her, overwhelming her in all the best ways. Marius’s hand shifted into a faster pace. Her blood going molten, she obeyed his unspoken order. She leaned back on the tree, panting as release coiled inside her.

With his free hand, Marius dragged his fingers across his mouth. Tahlia did the same but nibbled her forefinger in the process. She sucked it between her lips and he growled, his eyes shuttering for a moment. He reduced the speed of the hand at his cock, and she whimpered quietly, not wanting to slow down. Her release was building, pounding in her blood, making her knees weak. Vicious, he was, as he eased into a crawling pace. He wore a wicked grin. She wanted to lick him up and down; her lips ached with the need to taste his skin again.

“Faster, Marius, please…”

His tongue darted out to wet his lips and he increased his pace little by little. She mimicked him perfectly even as her body demanded more, more, more. Finally, her body uncoiled and shivered. Pleasure jolted through her, and he shuddered, uncovering himself momentarily.

They gasped together, and he grinned at her.

“You are the true monster in this haunted kingdom because now I only want you more,” he said.

“Goes both ways, my scary, lovely captain.”

“I’ll be right back,” he said. “You take all the time you need to gather yourself.”

“Thanks.”

He pressed his fingers to his lips, kissed them, then held them out toward her. She touched her mouth, feeling the smile he’d placed there. After a quick trip back to the fireside, Marius returned with the flask. They stood under the trees, drank, and talked about little nothings that meant everything.

She would save him from this. Or she would die trying. Marius was hers and no one was going to take him from her.